Archives

All posts for the month January, 2012

Urgh! Don’t anyone ever tell me I don’t want this! I spent entirely too long over the last couple of days putting postcards through people’s doors. I always used to get cross with people that did this, I get no end of menus and info asking me to sell my house and it really bugs me, but having done it myself (in the pouring rain might I add) they have my sympathy. There are some rubbish jobs out there, but this one is pretty bad. Not only was it wet and cold, all the letter boxes were stiff and constantly snapping down on my already painful hands (the cold was making my fingers pink and blue) BUT! I had Jared Leto singing to my on my ipod so that made it a little better. What made it a LOT better was my other half coming out to meet me, even though it was pouring and grim, he walked through the estate to find me and keep me company. I am a very lucky girl in this respect. Plus we saw a double rainbow which also cheered me up.

I had thought I’d handed them all out so was relieved to return home, only to find a tonne more in my bag. yuck yuck yuck. But I figure if anyone asks, I’m proving my dedication to my work. I spend 100% of the time I should be writing advertising. I have NO idea about how to go about it. It’s not something they ever taught in school, but I’m learning through trial and error what gets results and what doesn’t. Leafletting – bad! Warm house after leafletting – good! But I do have more sympathy for the poor so and sos that have to do that for a job, all day, every day.

So anyone out there wanting to advertise their books…don’t leaflet, it’s painful and doesn’t seem to get results!

Advertisements

Rate this:

My Nana passed away this morning, she was in a lot of pain and the doctors suspected it was cancer around the liver. I’m relived in a way as she went in her sleep, but obviously I will miss her very, very much. I just wanted to pay tribute in a small way to a woman who I was always in awe of (She had 10 kids!) and love very much.

Rate this:

I didn’t bother with my ninja costume, an was wearing a pretty obvious bright turquoise coat, but that didn’t stop me from some serious guerilla advertising.

I think my local library will be banning me pretty soon.

It started with me taking out about 20 books at a time, lugging them home, putting my bookmarks in them, then returning them. A backbreaking task when you don’t drive! But then, my brain actually started working, and I started bookmarking the books in the library. Makes more sense right? I am a little bit blonde. Unfortunately, I’m such a wuss, I spend the whole time popping my head over the bookcases like a bunny because I’m so worried someone is going to catch me and chuck me out. I look seriously suspicious, and the library staff now practically follow me around every time I come in. But! I’d say about half the teen fiction books now have my bookmarks in them, and no one seems to be removing them. Mwahahahaahahhaahhahhaa! I feel really naughty when I’m finished, which is ridiculous as I’m not damaging the books, I’m no even moving them around into the wrong places, plus the people who take them out get a pretty, free bookmark. 🙂

Anyone out there got any fun covert ops guerilla advertising stories?

Love and hugs

p.s Sorry about the infrequency of posts recently, everything is…difficult…in the real world at the moment which I’m not going to go into as I’m sure you all have better things to be doing, but things might be a little sporadic for a while as I’ve moved house (:( ) and am nursing a broken heart. x

Rate this:

I made another set of bookmarks with a different design. I’ll be giving them away to the next 20 people who ‘Like’ my facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lily-Crussell/229502913788140 Once you’ve liked, send me a message via facebook with your address and I’ll send it out. UK only at present as I’m just a poor author! Will look into a US one later x

Rate this:

I’m giving the next 20 downloaders of my book all the stuff in the picture; (colours may vary!)

WIN ALL THIS!

I’ll need proof of purchase so either a screen cap or photo of the screen with the date and proof of purchase upon it. Once done, send me a message via here, or my facebook page and we’ll exchange emails to sort addresses etc.

This blooming bookmarks took me two full days of designing, printing, cutting, laminating, cutting and folding so I quite honestly will be glad to see them go! If you can’t see from the picture, you’ll get several bookmarks, a magnet, sticker and a couple of postcards. Give them all to friends/family or stick them wherever you want.

Unfortunately due to be ridiculously poor, this comp is only open to UK this time around, but I’ll see how this one goes then look into a US / rest of world one if it goes well.

So get downloading, the book is only 99p (you’d spend more on a can of coke and a bar of chocolate and they won’t last you as long as the e-book and bookmarks!)

See my facebook for more pictures of the super sexy bookmarks and more info, or if you have any questions, facebook me, tweet or message through here.

Rate this:

I am slightly oblivious in my little corner of the world. I miss all the gossip and action until it is long over, but if you haven’t heard about the huge blowup on Goodreads between authors and reviewers, this kick butt blog sums it up pretty well;

Anyhoo, when did it become acceptable to attack readers? When did authors become so wussy? You put your work out there, not everyone is going to love it. Not everyone loves Shakespeare. Not everyone loves GACKT and we all know he is a genius! (Go look him up ;p) But that is beside the point. If someone gives you a bad review, get over it. Seriously. It’s going to happen. There are no end of varying opinions out there, you can’t please everyone. Just chalk it up to either; bad luck, bad taste or bad day. Then move on. I’m sure the reviewer has. Get a big bar of vegan chocolate and nom until it all feels better. Go cuddle someone. Take a walk around the block, and then move on!

It’s bad etiquette, bad manners and bad publicity to attack a reviewer, especially when that person spent their hard earned cash on your book. I just honestly can’t believe authors and agents got involved in such a public way! They took one bad review and turned into into this huge thing, so now everyone hates them because of their terrible attitudes. The quality of the book is now no longer an issue because people will only know the author for the huge online campaign against the reviewer. They do say there is no such thing as bad publicity, and I for one have been seriously curious about some ‘bad books’ and end up trying them out just to see if they are that bad. But to actually go out of your way to attack someone online…I just don’t think it’s acceptable. Unless someone slates some of my work, then it’s perfectly fine ;p

Love and Hugs xxxx

Rate this:

Something I have realised since seriusly trying to become a published author, is that you have to sell yourself. I was under thismisguided impression that an agent loves your book, sells it to a publisher, then THEY fund/organise the advertising. NUH UH. It now works the other way around. The industry is so difficult and cut throat now days that YOU (the author) have to make yourself famouos BEFORE approaching agents. Why would they possibly want to read the manuscript you spent years sweating over if you’re not famous? It’s not about the writing anymore sweetie. If someone from a reality tv show can get a book published when they have NO experience and no real want to be an author, why can’ t those of us killing ourselves trying to get our work read. It’s all about celebrity. If you were a famous singer/dancer/talent show contestant who has any kind of publicity surrounding them, you will be APPROACHED by agents. they will seek you out. They will offer you a book deal even if you haven’t any desire to write a book. They’ll advertise, smooze you and essentially get the thing written for you.

To me, that just seems ass backwards. As a writer, you expect that you have to have written something to get a book deal. Not anymore kids. No, today if you’re famous, you get a book deal. If you’re not, you either have to get famous, or kill yourself advertising yourself wherever and whenever. Not for you? Me either. Self promotion has never been my thing. I’d rather my work spoke for itself. How is the noob writer supposed to even know how to get started? You learn from someone who’s already made the mistakes for you, so kids, feel free to ask me ANYTHING. I figure someone should learn from my mistakes 🙂